Retaining device for casters and slides

ABSTRACT

A retaining system for retaining casters and slides. The retaining system is adapted to be fastened to a cabinet-like receptacle having side walls and a bottom, and includes at least one retaining device. The retaining device is comprised of: a bracket adapted to be fastened to the side walls of the cabinet-like receptacle at the bottom thereof without the interposition of a bottom plate; and a plurality of plates, each of the plates having a receiving pin for receiving one of a caster and a slide and being embedded in the bracket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a retaining system for casters and slides thesystem including at least one retaining device which can be attached tothe bottom of cabinet-like receptacles.

Cabinet-like--or chest-like--receptacles provided with casters or slidesare those which, among other things, have a solid bottom panel, forexample rolling containers, office containers, cabinets or devices. Inmany cases the bottom panel is exclusively used for stabilization anddoes not have a function as a pigeon hole or dust protector,particularly in those cases where there are drawers directly above thebottom panel. If required, casters or slides are fastened on this bottompanel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to fasten casters or slides in special retaining devices,which then, in turn, are fixed by bolting, inserting, welding or gluingto the bottom panel of a cabinet-like receptacle, as a rule respectivelyone at each of the four corners of the bottom panel. This results in anelaborate construction and a time-consuming work process.

It is thus an object of the invention to provide a retaining device forcasters and slide which obviates the disadvantages associated with theprior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a retaining device for casters and slidesfulfills a stabilizing function for a cabinet-like receptacle by beingconfigured to serve as the bottom panel of the cabinet-like receptacle.

Thus, in the present the invention, the retaining device is attacheddirectly to the cabinet-like receptacle, which is open at its bottom,instead of being attached to a bottom panel of the receptacle first, ashas been customary up to now. Because the retaining devicesimultaneously takes over the function of a bottom panel, a reduction ofthe structural components and simplification of assembly of the systemare achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawingsand will be described in detail below. Shown respectively on a reducedscale are in:

FIG. 1, a perspective view of front and rear retaining devices mountedon side walls of a cabinet open at its bottom;

FIG. 2, a cross sectional view of a retaining device having a casterfastened thereto with a dowel and bolt connection as the fasteningmeans;

FIG. 3A, a front elevational view of the retaining device with anadditional dust cover and with a device for receiving a decorativepanel;

FIG. 3B, a front elevational view of the device for receiving adecorative panel shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A, a cross sectional of a retaining device having a casterfastened thereto with reinforcing pins as the fastening for thin sidewalls;

FIG. 4B, a cross sectional view of the reinforcing pin of FIG. 4Afastened to a thin side wall;

FIG. 5, a view corresponding to FIG. 1, a single retaining deviceoccupying the entire bottom of the cabinet;

FIG. 6A, a top plan view of a single retaining device for application ina corner of a cabinet-like receptacle;

FIG. 6B, a side elevational view of the single retaining device of FIG.6A;

FIG. 6C, a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the single retainingdevice of FIG. 6A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Each one of the retaining devices selected as an exemplary embodimenthas a plastic bracket 1. The plastic bracket 1 is embodied in theconventional manner as an injection-molded part with reinforcement ribs,bars or the like. The plastic bracket has a plate 11 in the area of itsfront/corners. A metal plate 2 has be embedded into the plastic bracket1 in the area of the plate 11, or it may be injected into the plasticbracket during injection molding. The metal plate 2 is provided with apin 21. Each pin 21 receives a caster 3 or a slide, not shown. The pins21 for the casters 3 are suitably attached in such a way that the latterpartially project into the plastic bracket 1. This makes possible alesser bottom clearance 22 than with conventional retaining devices.Dowels 12 and a bar 13 are formed on the front and/or side walls of theplastic bracket 1. The dowels 12, which are arranged in one plane areused, together with the bar 13, for fastening the plastic bracket 1 onrespectively one side wall 41 of a cabinet-like receptacle 4, open atthe bottom, the remainder of which is not illustrated.

If cabinet-like receptacles with a bottom surface having an invariablelength and width are equipped with the retaining system, an embodimentin accordance with FIG. 5 is recommended according to that embodiment,two plastic brackets 1, which form the actual retaining system, areconnected by means of a reinforced intermediate plate 17. As in theexemplary embodiment, the retaining system can have include the metalplates 2 with the pin 21 for receiving the casters 3 at all four cornersof the cabinet-like receptacle or on two corners which are part of thesame side wall and at the center of the opposite side wall.

If cabinet-like receptacles with a bottom surface having an invariablewidth but a variable length are to be provided with a retaining system,the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1 is recommended, according tothat embodiment two plastic brackets 1 which are identical are used, oneof which is used as the front and the other as the rear retaining deviceof the retaining system. Each one of these plastic brackets is thenfastened in the area of the front or the rear side wall at the bottom ofthe cabinet-like receptacle.

If cabinet-like receptacles having a variable length as well as avariable width are equipped with the retaining system, the use of theplastic bracket in accordance with FIG. 6 is recommended according tothis embodiment one of the plastic brackets 1 is fastened on the bottomsurface at each corner of the cabinet-like receptacle. For reasons ofstabilization it is possible to connect all adjoining plastic brackets,or respectively two plastic brackets 1 disposed on the same side, withthe aid of a profiled section 5, which can be changed in length. Theprofiled section 5 suitably is a metal profiled section which is pushedon a projection 18 formed on the plastic bracket 1.

The dowels 12 provided on the plastic bracket 1 are embedded in wood orparticle board panels which form the side walls 41--FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and6--. The plastic bracket 1 is then additionally bolted to the side wall41 with the aid of a bolt, not shown--FIG. 2--. If the cabinet-likereceptacle 4 has thin side walls 42, a reinforcing pin 14, which extendsvertically to the bar 13, is used for fastening. A U-shaped fasteningpart 43, connected with the side wall 42 and having free ends projectingin the manner of a flange, is placed over the wedge-like reinforcing pin14 and bolted --FIGS. 4A and 4B--.

If the cabinet-like receptacle is to receive an additional dust cover44, a bolting tongue 15, which is provided with a bore for a bolt topass through, is formed on the inside of the plastic bracket 1. The dustcover 44 is placed on the bolting tongue 15 and is bolted.

If additional decorative panels, not shown, of the cabinet-likereceptacle 4 are to be fastened, fasteners 16 for such decorative panelsare formed on the plastic bracket 1--FIGS. 3A and 3B--.

The invention can be utilized with all cabinet-like receptacles whichare initially open on the underside and are then provided with a bottom,for example rolling containers, office containers, cabinets or devices.

I claim:
 1. A retaining system for retaining casters and slides, theretaining system being adapted to be fastened to a cabinet-likereceptacle having side walls and a bottom, the retaining system furthercomprising at least one retaining device including:a bracket adapted tobe fastened to the side walls of the cabinet-like receptacle at thebottom thereof without the interposition of a bottom plate; and aplurality of plates, each of the plates having a receiving pin forreceiving one of a caster and a slide and being embedded in the bracket.2. The retaining system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality ofplates includes at least three plates.
 3. The retaining system accordingto claim 1, wherein:the at least one retaining device includes tworetaining devices; and the bracket of each of the two retaining devicesis configured to extend from a first side wall to a facing second sidewall of the cabinet like receptacle, the bracket thereby being adaptedto be fastened to the first side wall at one end thereof and to thesecond side wall at another end thereof such that a first one of the tworetaining devices forms a front retaining device and a second one of thetwo retaining devices forms a rear retaining device of the cabinet-likereceptacle.
 4. The retaining system according to claim 1, wherein:the atleast one retaining device includes four retaining devices; and thebrackets of the four retaining devices are configured to be fastened ateach of four corners of the cabinet-like receptacle, respectively. 5.The retaining system according to claim 4, further including at leastone fitted hollow profile section for connecting two adjoining ones ofthe brackets to one another when the brackets are fastened at each ofthe four corners of the cabinet-like receptacle.
 6. The retaining systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a plurality of dowelsformed thereon and adapted to be inserted into the side walls forfastening the bracket thereto.
 7. The retaining system according toclaim 6, wherein the bracket includes a fastening side adapted to befastened to one of the side walls of the cabinet-like receptacle, thebracket further comprising a bar at the fastening side thereof forsupporting said one of the side walls, the bar further being configuredto be bolted to said one of the side walls.
 8. The retaining systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a fastening sideadapted to be fastened to one of the side walls of the cabinet-likereceptacle, the bracket further comprising a reinforcing pin at thefastening side thereof configured to be fastened to said one of the sidewalls.
 9. The retaining system according to claim 1, wherein thereceiving pin of each of the plates partially project into the bracket.10. The retaining system according to claim 1, the bracket including abolting tongue for fastening a dust cover thereon.
 11. The retainingsystem according to claim 1, wherein the bracket includes fasteners forfastening decorative panels thereto.
 12. The retaining system accordingto claim 1, wherein:the bracket is made of plastic and is formed byinjection molding; and the plates are embedded in the bracket by beinginjected therein.
 13. The retaining system according to claim 1, whereinthe plates are made of metal.